[Businessmtg] FW: FW: Fwd: ASP Business Meeting - Service

[Steve Rankin]

Hi Tori, 

 

The last Business Meeting was interesting; "interesting" being a polite code word for something like you described.  In fact, one of the officers offered your more colorful language to describe it the other day.  😊

 

However, the KBDM process was not the root cause of our travails in July.  While some lament the ‘complication’ of our KBDM process, our KBDM process is a mere 5 pages and 1,571 words.  That is dwarfed by the 816 pages of Robert’s Rules of Order.  Even a simplified quick start version for beginner’s is 80 pages.  

 

Additionally, our KBDM process is carefully laid out in outline form and chronological order so the Chair simply needs to follow the steps of the outline during the meeting.  In other words, it is actually quite simple.  

 

If you follow the instructions.  

 

Like so many things in life, if you don’t follow the instructions, things can easily get complicated and sideways.  

 

The difference in our Business Meeting is largely a result of the leadership.  If the Chair is attentive and follows the instructions, the meeting is very likely to be smooth and orderly.  That is not to say the process is fast.  

 

Many years ago, I served as the OOD of the 3rd busiest Coast Guard station in the country.  As OOD, it was my job to make the decisions that needed to be made during my 24-hour watch.  Naturally, lives literally hung in the balance on the decisions I made and how quickly I made them.  We don’t have those problems in ASP, so our decision making is slow and deliberate.  Either way, quality leadership is critical to both the process and the resulting effectiveness of the decision.  

 

Our goal in Al-Anon is to reach an INFORMED consensus that leads to a group conscience with substantial unanimity.  Our ideal is both fully informed and unanimous.  The first challenge is for the members of the group to be informed.  The process for accomplishing that is for the members to share quality information in their shares during the discussion.    An entire section of our KBDM process addresses that issue:

 

Here is what our KBDM process says about posting shares during our discussions:

============================

VI. Posts to the discussion

Members are asked to read ALL the new posts before posting a response or question. Please do NOT ask questions that have already been answered. A post may be:

A. A question;

B. A statement of fact—if so please provide supporting evidence;

C. A statement of Al-Anon principle—if so, please quote the applicable Step, Tradition or Concept;

D. A statement of experience—if so, please say so and describe the Al-Anon experience in our usual way: what it was like, what happened, and what it is like now;

E. A statement of opinion—if so please be clear that it is your opinion and not a statement of fact or Al-Anon principle.

 

Please note that there is nothing in this that suggests members post shares such as:

“I like what Susie Q said.” or 

“I’m in favor of chocolate.” or

“I’m uncomfortable with . . .”

None of these shares gives the discussion any information of value regarding the Al-Anon principles that may apply to the discussion.  Nor is there any experience, strength and hope being shared in these posts.  

FYI, unlike in our recovery meetings where we avoid cross talk, it is A-OK to disagree with someone else in an Al-Anon business meeting.  In fact, that might be good practice for many members because this is a safe place to have a disagreement.  Just keep the chatter on topic and off personalities, OK.

 

For example, a particularly annoying and controlling Past Delegate stated during an Assembly that the Treasurer was in favor of doing such’n’such.  Hmm.  I was the Treasurer, so I walked slowly to the podium while the Chair wet her pants since she fully expected me to attack the Past Delegate.  Instead, I introduced myself as if no one knew who I was, and then I simply stated that I was absolutely against such’n’such and why.  And I returned to my seat without directing a single word towards Peggy.  The motion to proceed with such’n’such failed by a wide margin, at least partly because I said what needed to be said, but never attacked the person.  

 

Hugs,

Steve 



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